Moving to Indianapolis? As the capital city in one of the most affordable states to live in the U.S., Indy is an excellent place to settle down. If you’re moving to Circle City, here are the best neighborhoods in Indianapolis to buy a home!
Broad Ripple
- Home Price: $316,500 median purchase price
- Crime Rate: Safer than 3% of Indiana cities
- Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees
Bordering a long stretch of the White River, the Broad Ripple neighborhood is an ideal balance between exciting nightlife and quiet, walkable streets. Residents can easily unwind at the bars and pubs at the Broad Ripple Ave and N College Ave intersection—or by taking nice strolls and bike rides on the expansive Monon Trail. Along with providing a mix of cozy bungalows and stately Tudor homes, this Indy neighborhood provides residents with the Broad Ripple Farmers Market every Saturday morning, along with fun events like May’s annual Broad Ripple Art Fair!
Things to Do in Broad Ripple
Appreciate the current exhibits or attend a Clay, Drawing, or Fibers class at the 12-acre campus of the Indianapolis Art Center. Get tickets for shows from local and nationally touring musicians and DJs at 21+ music venue The Vogue. Swim in the pool, practice on the tennis courts, or bike the fitness path at Broad Ripple Park. Or put a unique spin on your wardrobe or sign up for Leather Snkr Art Class at Kicasso Sneaker Art Bar. Snack on Broccoli Quiche, Lemon Caesar Salade, or Gwendolyn’s Famous Earl’s Court Chocolate Cake at elegant The Cake Bake Shop. Chow down burgers like the Binkley or Hawaiian Turkey Burger, or get the Fish Tacos at Binkley’s Kitchen & Bar. Order Mexican classics like Fried Chimichangas, Golden Enchiladas, or Shrimp Fajitas at Luciana’s. Or enjoy a Brewpub BLT, Bangers and Mash, or Scotch Egg Pizza at the Broad Ripple Brewpub, Indiana’s first brewpub!
Castleton
- Home Price: $241,000 median purchase price
- Crime Rate: Safer than 3% of Indiana cities
- Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees
Castleton is a north Indianapolis neighborhood dotted with green space, small lakes, and affordable Indianapolis homes for sale in Ranch and Traditional styles. While this Indy neighborhood is commuter friendly—with easy access to I-465, I-69, and Downtown Indianapolis—what draws residents to Castleton is the amenities! On the neighborhood’s west lies Oliver’s Woods Nature Preserve and Town Run Trail Park, which offer nature trails and mountain biking! The Castleton neighborhood is also known for its great schooling options, like the nearby Allisonville Elementary School and Fall Creek Montessori School. But the main attraction in this Indianapolis area is Castleton Square shopping center—which even draws in residents from the surrounding suburbs of Fishers, Noblesville, and Carmel!
Things to Do in Castleton
Spend a day at the Aquatic Center, Disc Golf Course, or tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts at the beautiful Sahm Park. Practice throwing at the largest axe-throwing facility in the Midwest or investigate the escape room at Anarchy Axe Throwing. Explore the largest mall in Indiana with a wide variety of popular stores, restaurants, and even a movie theater in Castleton Square. Let your kids play in the indoor playground’s ball pit or enjoy the all-ages arcade at Smiley Indoor Playground & Arcade. Try specialty white cheddar mac-n-cheese pots like The District Mac or Cajun Mac—or get The District Burger at The District Tap. Order the Ale Club, White Stromboli, or Ale Panini as you watch your favorite teams play on the projector screens at Ale Emporium. Fill up a plate with Beef Teriyaki, Fried Scallops, or Stuffed Shrimp at buffet-style restaurant The Journey. Or share rolls like the Pikachu and B.M.W.—or go big with the Sukiyaki Steak Hibachi at Masa Sake Grill.
Fountain Square
- Home Price: $269,500 median purchase price
- Crime Rate: Safer than 3% of Indiana cities
- Perfect For: Singles, young professionals
Looking for one of the best neighborhoods in Indianapolis to buy a home near Downtown? Try Fountain Square! Widely described as “funky,” this Indianapolis neighborhood is at the center of a lively arts scene—with plenty of vintage shops and boutiques, local businesses, and fantastic restaurants. It even borders the Pleasant Run waterway, where you can hike along the Pleasant Run Trail and enjoy beautiful green space. Fountain Square is also one of the most walkable and bikeable neighborhoods in Indianapolis, making it easy to access your favorite local businesses without a car. Smaller bungalows and Contemporary homes are common in the area—and with a ten-minute commute into Downtown Indianapolis, this is a perfect Indy neighborhood for singles and young professionals.
Things to Do in Fountain Square
Take a step back in time with a night of retro duckpin bowling at Atomic Bowl, the only alley in Indiana still offering this mini version of bowling. Find out how they “do it in a box” when you visit Glutes 317, a multi-level shipping container gym in Indianapolis with state-of-the-art equipment. Sign up for Women’s Night, take the kids to Little Potters classes, or attend an Open Studio night at Fountain Square Clay Center. Support local charity partners and veterans when you buy tickets to a performance in the indoor stage or outdoor annex at HI-FI Indy. Make a reservation to enjoy a French Press, Chocolate Chocolate Chip blended beverage, or London Fog Latte with a pastry while you make friends with the furry, four-legged residents of Nine Lives Cat Cafe. Flip through the all-vegan menu with options like the Seitanderloin, Beet Burger, or Korean BBQ Bowl at Three Carrots Fountain Square. Taste Caribbean classics like the Jerk Chicken, Brown Stew Red Snapper, or JD’s Famous Oxtails at Yaso Jamaican Grill. Or get out for a night on the town with a fancy dinner of Double Airline Chicken Breast, Beef Wellington, and Seafood Pappardelle at Geraldine’s Supper Club & Lounge.
Meridian-Kessler
- Home Price: $375,000 median purchase price
- Crime Rate: Safer than 3% of Indiana cities
- Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees
With beautiful housing options that range from smaller bungalows to larger Tudors and Craftsman homes, the Meridian-Kessler neighborhood is a great fit for anyone moving to Indianapolis! You can expect to live amid beautiful tree-lined streets with wide sidewalks, friendly neighbors, and well-kept yards. For a month every year, this neighborhood comes alive during the Indiana State Fair—which features a wide array of rides and attractions, as well as live music, food, and competitions. The rest of the year, Meridian-Kessler has a lot to offer with local restaurants and shops that are easy to access on foot or by bike. Many of your daily errands can even be accomplished without leaving the neighborhood! You can also contribute to your community with block clean-ups, street parties, and local home tours through the Meridian-Kessler Neighborhood Association.
Things to Do in Meridian-Kessler
Watch classic productions like Tosca and The Magic Flute, or attend Opera in the Park at the Indianapolis Opera. Search for your next favorite read as you walk the shelves after getting your free library card at the Indianapolis Public Library College Avenue Branch. Play on sport courts, splash pad, or playground area and walk the paths at Tarkington Park. Enjoy fantastic lap swimming in the pools and fun competition on the tennis and pickleball courts when you become a member of The Riviera Club. Get your caffeine fix with an Espresso, Cortado, or Cafe Au Lait at Blue Mind Coffee Roasters. Eat specialties like Rosemary Chicken Lasagna, Manicotti, and Ravioli at Mama Carolla’s, an award-winning Italian restaurant in Indianapolis. Get your fill of Texas-style BBQ in the midwest with Brisket, Pork Butt, or Brats at Half Liter BBQ & Beer Hall. Or eat sustainably-sourced entrees like Steelhead Trout, Maple Leaf Farms Duck Confit, or Chicken Under a Brick at Root & Bone.
Near Eastside
- Home Price: $159,900 median purchase price
- Crime Rate: Safer than 3% of Indiana cities
- Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees
If you’d like to live in an Indy neighborhood with great community spirit, Near Eastside could be one of the best places for you to buy a home! Near Eastside is a large Indianapolis neighborhood committed to community improvement efforts. This is most evident with the neighborhood’s founding of the John Boner Center, which offers residents a Fitness Zone for workouts and has summer camps and after-school programs available for kids. Near Eastside places great emphasis on cultural community aspects with 10 East Arts, which has created a vibrant arts district centered around 10th street, as well as the public Pogue’s Run Art & Nature Park. Near Eastside is also centered around Brookside Park, a massive 108-acre wooded park—so you can spend some of your free time out in nature.
Things to Do in Near Eastside
Get outside for an Open Swim day during the summer, or visit the Family Center for basketball and volleyball at Brookside Park. Scale boulders of varying difficulties, take a class in the Yoga Studio, train in the Fitness Studio, and even hang out in the coworking space and cafe at North Mass Boulder. Or shop for unique furniture and decor pieces for your Indianapolis home at Midland Arts & Antiques. View new releases or classics in the movie theater after a meal in The Brasserie at Kan-Kan Cinema. Snag a breakfast of the Bagel & Schmear, Lox & Loaded, or Turkey Run at Sidedoor Bagel. Share a Neapolitan-style pizza like the Margherita, Destroyer, or Gabba Ghoul at King Dough Pizzas. Get great Mexican food in Indianapolis with the Burrito Bandera, Torta, or Pambaso at La Parada. Or sit down for an all-vegan, rotating menu that can include favorites like Chicken & Waffles, a Spicy Chicken Biscuit, and a Tofu Scramble at 10th Street Diner.
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